Learning new words can be fun! This lesson will take major vocabulary words from several subjects and explore them so that 6th grade students can get a better understanding of some new and exciting terms.

Word Power!

Why might a student want to study vocabulary? Well, we study vocabulary, or the words we use, in order to be more specific in our communication. When writing or speaking, we can use specific vocabulary in order to get the message across with a clearer understanding.

For example, telling someone that you are happy can mean so many things. What if you were more specific and said you were 'exuberant' or 'elated' or 'victorious?' Described below are some words that you may find useful.

Language Arts Terms

Protagonist - the main character in a work of fiction

Harry Potter was quite a memorable protagonist.

Antagonist - a character who opposes the protagonist

The evil antagonist tried as best as he could to defeat the hero.

Imagery - words used in a piece of writing that allow a reader to form mental images of people or things

The imagery in his descriptive story was so specific that the readers could really picture the setting.

Everyone loved Tom, so the decision to elect him as class president was unanimous.

Negotiate - to try and come to an agreement with another person

When buying a new car, Jon had to negotiate with the salesman to get a good price.

Treacherous - very dangerous or risky

The journey to the top of Mt. Everest was very long and treacherous.

Pacify - to soothe

The crying baby needed the special blanket to pacify her.

Eerie - scary or frightening

The old abandoned building gave him an eerie feeling.

A dark forest may be an eerie sight for some people

Lesson Summary

Using new vocabulary can help you both write and speak with more specific detail. This lesson described just a few of the new words out there just waiting for you to explore. Try to use some of these new words today and impress your friends on a whole new level!

Summary:

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